All the news you need to know this Thursday.

It’s the final day to formally opt-out of the My Health Record system, meaning digital records will be created for all who choose to remain in the database. The federal government is assuring Australians they can delete their record at any time and that no data will be wrongfully exposed.

Clean up efforts are underway in Melbourne after severe storms swept through the city on Wednesday. SES crews received more than 800 calls for help, largely for fallen trees and property damage.

Tonnes of dead fish have been removed from the Darling River as hot and dry conditions continue to pose threat to the animals. It is estimated that close to one million fish died over the weekend at Menindee in the latest series of mass fish deaths in the area.

Residents in Queensland's north are assessing the damage after 300mm of rain fell within hours. A metre-high wall of water inundated homes and washed away vehicles near Townsville, while a pregnant woman went into labour in the hardest hit suburb of Bluewater and had to be rescued by swift water crews.

Motorists in NSW will have 10 minutes after when their parking ticket expires to get back to their car before they can be fined. For this late period to apply, the ticket must be valid for over an hour and it doesn't apply to private car parks or meters that don't issue tickets. It also doesn't apply to parking areas in bus lanes, clearways, transit lanes, mail zones and special event parking. The reforms are aimed to make parking fines fairer.

Liberal-turned-independent MP Julia Banks has declared she will run against former colleague Greg Hunt for the Victorian seat of Flinders in the upcoming Federal Election. Banks said she has unfinished business and will be pushing for action on climate change and gender equality.

Cities in the US Midwest are at a standstill as the region shivers through a deadly cold snap. Temperatures have plummeted to -37 degrees in North Dakota and Chicago with the icy conditions killing least six people.

The Renegades have jumped to 2nd on the Big Bash League ladder after a 27 run win over Sydney Thunder in Melbourne. On Thursday night the Hobart Hurricanes take on the Adelaide Strikers.

New research suggests heavy drinkers could be changing their DNA in a way that increases the desire for alcohol. A team of US scientists say it could help explain why alcohol addiction is so powerful and hard to resist.